EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell writes in a guest editorial in Journal Du Dimanche that Taiwan is important for Europe economically, commercially and technologically.
“Therefore, I call on European fleets to patrol the Taiwan Strait to demonstrate Europe’s determination regarding freedom of navigation in this critical area,” he writes.
The strait separates Taiwan from mainland China. It is the main route for ships from China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan to Europe. China claims rights to the strait, as well as to Taiwan itself, while Taiwan considers the strait to be international waters.
The US has been sending warships through the strait with some regularity in recent years, which irritates China.
“US warships are repeatedly flexing their muscles under the pretext of exercising freedom of navigation. This is not about keeping the region free and open,” Chinese embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu in Washington said earlier this year.
Borrell’s comment can be seen in the light of French President Emmanuel Macron making statements during a state visit to Beijing that were interpreted as too pro-China on the Taiwan issue.
— We must not get entangled in a global mess and crises that are not ours, Macron said to several media.